No. 15 Silsbee boys down No. 16 H-J at Ford Arena

By David Berry

Published 12:26 pm, Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Photo: Enterprise File Photo

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Hardin-Jefferson's Zjori Bosha, No. 12, shoots a three point shot against the Silsbee Tigers High School. Hardin-Jefferson High School played against Silsbee Tigers High School at the Ford Arena Tuesday. Hardin-Jefferson's Zjori Bosha had 18 second quarter points. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14 less

Hardin-Jefferson's Zjori Bosha, No. 12, shoots a three point shot against the Silsbee Tigers High School. Hardin-Jefferson High School played against Silsbee Tigers High School at the Ford Arena Tuesday. ... more

Photo: Enterprise File Photo

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Silsbee Tigers Patrick Reed, No. 35, drives the ball in during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson High School Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

Silsbee Tigers Patrick Reed, No. 35, drives the ball in during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson High School Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

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Silsbee Tigers Jalen Hardaway, No. 12, drives the ball in during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson High School Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

Silsbee Tigers Jalen Hardaway, No. 12, drives the ball in during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson High School Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

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Silsbee Tigers Michael McCain, No. 22, drives the ball in for two points during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

Silsbee Tigers Michael McCain, No. 22, drives the ball in for two points during the second quarter against the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14

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Silsbee Tigers Patrick Reed, right, No. 35, jumps for the ball at the start of the game against Hardin-Jefferson Hawks Brady Haskett, No. 42, at the Ford Arena Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
Photo taken Tuesday, 01/14/14 less

Silsbee Tigers Patrick Reed, right, No. 35, jumps for the ball at the start of the game against Hardin-Jefferson Hawks Brady Haskett, No. 42, at the Ford Arena Tuesday. Michael Rivera/@michaelrivera88
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In the first of two neutral-site games this week, Silsbee (17-7, 5-0 District 21-3A) came out and dominated in the first quarter, going up 21-10. H-J had a hard time dealing with Silsbee's pressure defense and athleticism to start the game.

The two teams contrasted each other. Silsbee's scoring was distributed evenly throughout the team, H-J depended a lot more on Zjori Bosha to get the bulk of the scoring done. The senior finished with a game-high 37 points for H-J.

Bosha was able to almost single-handedly get H-J (25-3, 4-1 21-3A) back into the game in the second quarter on the strength of two four-point plays and a three-point play.

He would finish with 18 second quarter points for the Hawks, who would go into halftime only down 40-35.

But Silsbee started the second half strong, once again overwhelming H-J with their defense, which led to plenty of transition points. Chris Elam led the Tigers with 21 points, while Jalen Hardaway, Zayon Jackson, and Patrick Reed scored 20, 17, and 15 respectively.

Hardaway caught fire, scoring 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter. Silsbee built a 62-45 lead going into the fourth quarter.

But H-J refused to go away. Bosha scored several buckets in the final eight minutes and was helped by timely shots from his teammates, including a three-point bank shot from Leland Rogers.

But in the end, Silsbee's defense and transition offense proved to be too much, and they closed out the game with some easy buckets from Elam.

Up next for Silsbee is a date with 3A No. 7 West Orange-Stark at the Montagne Center this Friday.